“No person shall use a lawn care device”, take a pic of your neighbor for evidence. What’s that?

We’ve all seen silly legislation – that the sponsor surely knew would not pass. Some examples? An effort to eliminate “only Portuguese” from the Minority Business Enterprise designation. A bill to allow dogs to accompany people into restaurants. A fine for any residence with a non-indigenous plant on their property. And even one that passed long ago and might still be on the books – it’s illegal to sell toothpaste on Sundays!

In this legislative session, Rep. Rebecca Kislak has a bill called the “Zero-Emission Lawn Care Devices
Act.” It would restrict use of certain landscaping devices. While not “silly” in intent, enforceable and overreach are both considerations.

The bill, different than some in the past designed to eliminate blaring noise from leaf blowers, submitted by Sen. Sam Zurier, would penalize any lawn device – lawn mower, blower, etc. – that had “emissions” such as from being powered by gas or diesel.

This legislation was presented this year by Rep. Kislak in the Pawt/Prov area. When asked if the legislation was one to “start the conversation” rather than serious rule-making, she – and an advocate for the Landscaping industry – replied:

Here is how the legislation would be enforced. Seemingly a neighbor could take a cellphone photo of the offense with a date-stamp on it and that would be enough to levy a civil fine. Fines would increase incrementally.

RINewsToday polled the question on Twitter:

Below is the full bill – to make your position known you can contact Rep. Rebecca Kislak at:

[email protected] – or on Twitter at @RebeccaKislak